Folding chairs



1, 1969 R. H. J. LECUYER FOLDING CHAIRS I of 2 Y Sheet Filed Nov. 17. 1967 Rm 0 T Y MU C V 5 mL u N. M O E I T I E H (N m, T. m B 0B R y 1969 R. H. J. LECUYER 3,453,022

FOLDING CHAIRS Filed Nov. 17, 1967 Sheet 13 or 2 INVENTOR R BERT HYACINTHE JEHN LECUYER United States Patent 3,453,022 FOLDING CHAIRS Robert Hyacinthe Jean Lecuyer, 4 Avenue Foch, Chateau-Gontier, France Filed Nov. 17, 1967, Ser. No. 683,851 Claims priority, application FranceJan. 13, 1967,

Int. Cl. A47c i/48; A47d 1/02 US. Cl. 297-46 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention relates to a folding chair of the kind in which the forward and back feet each one constituted by a frame in the form of a U, are hinged in the shape of a cross and it is distinguished in that all the hinge axes are situated in proximity to the frame of the supporting surface and toward the back of this latter.

Each one of the upper ends of the forward foot is hinged on the back part of the mounting frame of the seat while each one of the upper ends of the back foot is hinged between the prolongations of the wings of a flange which is made integral with the lower end of the mounting of the back of the chair and articulating on the back part of the mounting frame of the seat and at a point situated in front of said articulation axis of the forward foot.

According to a first form of embodiment, the mounting structure is constituted by a frame of rectangular shape, on whose back part there are articulated the said flanges, each one fixed to the lower end of the lateral branches of a frame in the form of a U constituting the closing structure of the back.

The supporting surface is constituted by .a special piece of cloth fixed on each one of the ends of the front part of said rectangular frame and on the upper part of the frame of the back, said supporting surface having a transverse fold, substantially in the middle, limiting respectively, the seat properly so designated and the back.

This fold comprises a sheath extending toward the back and in which is engaged a rigid rod urged resiliently toward the back side of the frame in such manner as to assure the tautness of all the supporting surface.

According to a second form of embodiment, the supporting surface is constituted by two rigid plaques each one fixed on a lateral mounting member and forming respectively the seat properly so designated and the back.

The present invention will be understood by the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings which are given only as an indicating example and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the open folding chair.

FIG. 2 is a side view on a smaller scale of the open chair.

FIG. 3 is a view of the chair in the process of being folded.

FIG. 4 is a view of the chair after it has been folded.

FIG. 5 is a perspective fragmentary view on a larger scale of the back part showing especially the position of the articulation axes with reference to the mounting frame of the seat.

3,453,022 Patented July 1, 1969 FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing a second modified form of embodiment.

Referring to the drawings, and according to a first mode of embodiment, the structure of the chair is provided by means of two frames of U shape resting on the ground by the intermediary of their middle part and hereafter designated forward foot and back foot.

The forward foot is constituted by a median part 1 which is extended by two lateral branches 2 between which can be inserted the lateral branches 3 of the rear foot connected by a median part 4.

Each one of the branches 2 of the forward foot is articulated like a cross on the corresponding parts 3 of the rear foot at a point intermediate of its length by means of a pivot 5 situated approximately at the upper quarter of the length of said branches 2.

The seat in the form shown in FIG. 1 is square or rectangular and having two side pieces 7, 7 connected by median parts 15, 19.

Each one of the upper ends 2' of the branches 2 of the forward foot is articulated by means of the pivot 6 on the rear extremity of the sides 7 of the seat frame of square or rectangular shape.

Each one of the upper ends 3 of the branches 3 of the rear foot is articulated by means of a pivot 8 between the extensions 9 of the wings of a flange 10 permitting to connect the frame of the back to that of the seat.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the first form, the frame structure of the back is constituted by a frame in the form of a U shape comprising two lateral branches 11 connected by a median part 12.

Each lower end of the branches 11 of the-frame of the back is made integral with the median part of the flange articulated on the corresponding side 7 of the mounting frame of the seat by the interposition of the pivot 13 situated in front of the previous mentioned pivot 6.

The supporting surface is constituted by a fabric band 14 of cloth or the like, attached on one of its ends on the front side 15 of the mounting frame of the seat and by its other end on the median part 12 of the frame of the back.

The band 14 has at the rear a cover piece 16 suitably mounted and wherein is engaged a rigid rod 17 permitting to hold said band 14 in order to determine two substantially plane surfaces positioned respectively in the planes of the frame of the seat and of the back.

The tautness of the supporting surface is provided for example by means of springs 18 held by one of their ends on the back side 19 of the frame of the seat and by the other end on the said rod 17 engaged in the cover piece 16.

The chair is held in the position of utilization by the lower portion 10' (FIG. 5) of the median part of each flange 10 which is supported against the corresponding side 7 of the frame of the seat and is opposed to the rotation toward the rear of the said flange about its pivot 13.

In order to fold the chair, it is only necessary to lower the back on the frame of the seat and during this movement the back foot engaged by the prolongations 9 of the flanges 10 pivots as indicated by the arrow F1 (FIGS. 2 and 3) about their pivot while acting by means of said pivot on the forward foot which pivots in the same sense about the pivot 6.

When the frame of the back 11 is lowered against the seat 7 (FIG. 3) the folding of the chair is completed by pushing completely the feet under the back, and this operation is effected by pushing the forward foot under 3 the seat while making it pivot about the pivots 6 as indicated by the arrow F2 (FIG. 3).

According to a second form of embodiment (FIG. 6) the frames of the seat and of the back are respectively constituted respectively by straight lateral members 20 connected by a rigid cover seat piece 21 forming the seat and by the lateral members 22 connected by a cover piece 23 forming the back.

I claim:

1. In a folding chair, a first front lower frame member of U-sha-pe, a second back lower frame member of U- shape, first pivot means interconnecting said lower frame members at a point intermediate of their respective lengths, near their upper ends, a back frame having two side pieces, a seat frame having two side pieces, a pair of extended flange members respectively attached to the side pieces of said back frame, second pivot means conmeeting said flange members at points intermediate of their length to the side pieces of said seat frame, and toward the back part of said seat frame, third pivot means interconnecting the upper free ends of the second back lower frame member to the end of each said flange member remote from said back frame, fourth pivot means interconnecting the upper free ends of the first front lower frame member to the rear ends of the two side pieces of said seat frame, and behind said second pivot means, and supporting pieces attached respectively to said back frame and said seat frame, said first pivot means being situated below, and relatively near said back frame, whereby in the position of utilization the chair is 4 held by the lower portion of the median part of each flange member.

2. A folding chair according to claim 1, said back frame being of U-shape and having a median part interconnecting the free ends of its said side pieces, said seat frame being rectangular having median members interconnecting the ends of its said two side pieces, the lower ends of said two side pieces of said back frame being made integral with the median part of the respective said flange member, and resilient means connected between the back median member of said seat frame and said supporting piece of said seat frame.

3. A folding chair according to claim 1, said two side pieces of said back frame being straight individual lateral members, said two side pieces of said seat frame being straight individual lateral members, and said supporting pieces extending between and being attached to said individual members of said back frame and seat frame respectively.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 780,009 1/1905 Mettler 29746 1,460,291 -6/ 1923 Truffy 29746 FOREIGN PATENTS 531,946 1/ 1922 France. 977,228 11/ 1950 France.

DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primazy Examiner. 

